I'm often asked what is the difference between an essential oil and a fragrance oil. Well, the first most likely answer is that essential oils are natural. They come from plants, flowers, bark, grass and well, nature! Fragrance oils are synthetic and while they may have some essential oils in them, you pretty much will have a hard time finding a Fresh Linen plant unless it comes from a big concrete one in New Jersey!
Essential oils go through several different processes to be made. Some are steam distilled, some are cold pressed others by CO2 extraction.
Steam distillilation is what most essential oils go through with the exception of citrus oils as they are often cold pressed. More on that later. The main method for extracting essential oils is called steam distillation: Large vats are filled with the selected part of the plant and sealed. The vats are either filled with water (distillation) or water is heated beneath them (steam distillation). This allows the steam to rupture the plant material, releasing the essence in the form of a vapor. The vapor cools as it passes through condensing tubes causing it to return to liquid form. This substance consists of two very distinct liquids -essential oil and the floral water. After separation, the essential oil is collected, tested and bottled. The floral water of some plants is collected and bottled too. These are also known as Hydrosols. Floral waters are known for their superb hydrating qualities and are used in toners and moisturisers.The Cold Pressed Method is only used for citrus oils. The oil glands lie very close to the fruit rind and are easily ruptured by squeezing or grating. The whole fruit is placed in a vat with an abrasive, spiked interior surface. The vat is then rotated, puncturing the oil cells, and the essential oil is emptied into a collecting vessel along with other cell contents. The oil is then decanted and separated.
In certain conditions at a low temperature Carbon Dioxide or CO2 can be pressurized to become a liquid. This liquid then acts as a solvent and is used to extract the oil from plants. After extraction is completed, the extraction vessel is brought back to normal temperature and the CO2 rapidly converts to gas leaving behind a high quality oil that is free of solvents. Essential oils are the pure extract of the plant are 70 times more concentrated. Whereas Fragrance oils are created in a labratory setting using a variety of chemicals along with essential oils to create their unique blends.It's a matter of personal preference which you choose. Those that want 100% natural will go with our Essential Oil or Organic oils soaps http://www.aftertherayne.com/essentialoilssoaps.htm and those that like a greater variety and do not have any worries about perfumes, scents will enjoy our Nearly Natural soaps http://www.aftertherayne.com/fragranceoilsoap.htm !
All of our soaps have the finest oils in them and we do not use any D&C or FD&C dyes in any of our soaps. We only use natural oxides or cosmetic grade micas for all of our gorgeous colors!Now, you are in the know the next time you wonder, what's the difference?
Essential oils go through several different processes to be made. Some are steam distilled, some are cold pressed others by CO2 extraction.
Steam distillilation is what most essential oils go through with the exception of citrus oils as they are often cold pressed. More on that later. The main method for extracting essential oils is called steam distillation: Large vats are filled with the selected part of the plant and sealed. The vats are either filled with water (distillation) or water is heated beneath them (steam distillation). This allows the steam to rupture the plant material, releasing the essence in the form of a vapor. The vapor cools as it passes through condensing tubes causing it to return to liquid form. This substance consists of two very distinct liquids -essential oil and the floral water. After separation, the essential oil is collected, tested and bottled. The floral water of some plants is collected and bottled too. These are also known as Hydrosols. Floral waters are known for their superb hydrating qualities and are used in toners and moisturisers.The Cold Pressed Method is only used for citrus oils. The oil glands lie very close to the fruit rind and are easily ruptured by squeezing or grating. The whole fruit is placed in a vat with an abrasive, spiked interior surface. The vat is then rotated, puncturing the oil cells, and the essential oil is emptied into a collecting vessel along with other cell contents. The oil is then decanted and separated.
In certain conditions at a low temperature Carbon Dioxide or CO2 can be pressurized to become a liquid. This liquid then acts as a solvent and is used to extract the oil from plants. After extraction is completed, the extraction vessel is brought back to normal temperature and the CO2 rapidly converts to gas leaving behind a high quality oil that is free of solvents. Essential oils are the pure extract of the plant are 70 times more concentrated. Whereas Fragrance oils are created in a labratory setting using a variety of chemicals along with essential oils to create their unique blends.It's a matter of personal preference which you choose. Those that want 100% natural will go with our Essential Oil or Organic oils soaps http://www.aftertherayne.com/essentialoilssoaps.htm and those that like a greater variety and do not have any worries about perfumes, scents will enjoy our Nearly Natural soaps http://www.aftertherayne.com/fragranceoilsoap.htm !
All of our soaps have the finest oils in them and we do not use any D&C or FD&C dyes in any of our soaps. We only use natural oxides or cosmetic grade micas for all of our gorgeous colors!Now, you are in the know the next time you wonder, what's the difference?
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